Paradise on the Ocean

Tucked into the little north Florida community of Palm Coast lies a seaside paradise – Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa. And unlike most beachside resort properties on the state’s east coast, this one is quiet and lush … an unspoiled place for us to simply get away and enjoy the good life.

Located midway between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, the Hammock Beach Resort called to us with its perfect blend of onsite amenities and activities, a bevy of spacious room choices, elite dining options, and world-class golf. A week of this sounded like just what we needed, so we headed north to experience it for ourselves. 

Our first undertaking was to choose our accommodations from the over 300 rooms on the 500-acre resort property. From one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes to villas on the golf course to full-sized condos with ocean views, there is something to fit everyone’s needs and tastes. There is even the classic Lodge – a boutique-style building with 20 rooms overlooking the ocean and golf course.

After checking in and enjoying a quick cocktail at the Lobby Bar, we made our way up to the magnificent accommodations of our Ocean Tower Condominium – a large multi-room option that featured a full kitchen and a 7th floor balcony with a stunning view of the resort, the golf course, and the Atlantic beyond. We quickly realized that the Ocean Tower was central to the amenities, activities, and dining at the resort, and we headed out to an evening meal that we won’t soon forget.

The award-winning Atlantic Grille sits oceanfront on the resort’s eastern edge, with huge windows and balcony dining that offer sweeping views of the ocean. Open from early morning breakfast through late night cocktails, they offer “shore-to-table” seafood options that are incredible. Our group ordered the huge Atlantic Grill Seafood Tower, a tableful of oysters, clams, shrimp, crab legs and lobster that fed four of us. The inspired dessert martinis capped off the perfect first night of our adventure. 

Early the next morning, we headed to the property’s secluded beach, located just a quick walk from our room. After requesting our beach chairs and umbrellas from the concierge on the path, we hit the beautiful pink shell sand and set up. We were thrilled to notice that, despite busy activity throughout the state in Florida’s “tourist season,” our beach was remarkably peaceful, with only a sprinkling of other folks enjoying the sundrenched atmosphere. As frequent travelers in the Sunshine State, we were coming to appreciate the privacy and tranquility of Hammock Beach Resort.

Not content with just the morning’s sun, we headed up to the resort’s Fantasy Pool Complex for the afternoon. After a quick lunch at the open-air Ocean Bar Café, we signed up for pool-side cabanas to spend the afternoon in. These cabanas were a perfect mix of pool access (there are actually five pools in the Complex alone) and shaded breezy downtime.

The Fantasy Pool Complex is a showcase of the best of Hammock Beach Resort’s amenities. This 90,000 square foot parcel sits in the center of it all, with a water slide, adults-only pool, winding lazy river experience, 35-person hot tub, and zero-entry pool surrounded by a man-made beach. There is food and cocktail service throughout the area, and we even managed to sneak in a couple of games of beach volleyball on the attached sandy court. 

Other outdoor activity options abound. There is yet another pool in the South Tower of the resort, as well as a beautiful heated indoor pool area. Onsite bicycle rentals are also included in your stay and can be used to tour the entire area. Paths wind through the grounds for relaxing nature walks, and there is even a nine-hole putting course replete with real turf that meanders through the resort’s central area. Families and friend groups can also take advantage of complimentary photography sessions right on site.  

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We filled the next couple of days with quiet luxury, spending lazy time at the beach, the pool areas, and the restaurants. We quickly found that there was never really a reason to leave the resort, as we had whatever we needed right in our back yard. We had an amazing dinner at Stix Authentic Sushi during our stay – an intimate dining experience that featured deliciously fresh prepared varieties of sushi, sashimi, and signature rolls. We celebrated at Delfinos Italian Chophouse one evening as well, reveling in delicious Italian favorites while sampling from their extensive wine list. We spent time in the casual Loggerheads Sports Pub, rooting on our favorite sports teams while digging into late-night wings and local craft beers. We even managed to find time to visit the Boardwalk area and hit up Hammock Beach Pizza & Gelato, purveyors of a delicious combo that we devoured on the Boardwalk’s wooden patio.   

We also relaxed at the Hammock Beach Resort’s Indoor Pool & Spa Garden. In addition to a fitness center, the spa features massages, facials, and a variety of body treatments. We signed up for a Tai chi class, then spent some quality downtime in the sauna and steam rooms on site before hopping in the warm indoor pool waters. There is even a salon to pamper yourself at. 

Just a quick trip away is the Marina at Hammock Beach, which includes over 200 boat slips, marine fuel, a ship’s store, and more. We watched as folks rented boats and jet skis to take out onto the local waters for the day, as well as those who signed up for coastal cruises. You can even work with Backwater Cat Adventure tours for a memorable hands-on day of sightseeing on the water. 

The highlight of our trip was the chance to play golf on the resort’s two famous courses. First up was the Watson Conservatory Course, a links-style track just down the road with undulating greens and an expansive layout. Designed by legendary golfer Tom Watson, it features uniquely designed holes such as the Island Green #8 and a tee box at #18 that is elevated over 200 feet – almost unheard of in the flat Florida landscape. In addition, it has a magnificent domed glass clubhouse and nature conservatory. We had a wonderful time playing this lush green challenging course. 

The next day, we walked down to the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa. This private course was designed by Jack Nicklaus himself, who many say is the greatest golfer of all time. It features the most ocean-front holes of any golf course in the state of Florida, with six of them playing directly along the Atlantic Ocean. Nicklaus carved out a stunningly beautiful, windswept course, culminating with what he termed “The Bear Claw” (a nod to his nickname of The Golden Bear) - the signature four-hole finish that features the most challenging holes on the track. 

The experience was everything we could have hoped for. The course was impeccably manicured, ambitious but not too difficult, and incredibly picturesque. None of us had ever played a golf course in Florida where our game was enhanced by the calling of the seagulls and the crashing of the waves. At the turn, we even grabbed a quick bite at the Hammock House clubhouse and took in the oceanside scenery at our leisure before heading out to finish our round and tackle The Bear Claw.

The day and the experience created golf memories for the ages. 

If you are looking for quiet oceanfront luxury with world-class dining and amenities, check out Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa for your next trip. 

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Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa

200 Ocean Crest Dr, Palm Coast, FL 32137

866-841-0287

www.HammockBeach.com